Systems and methods utilizing stationary and/or moveable cutting components provide limited interference with web processing operations, such as pad spin and pitch alteration. Heat, laser, fluid, or mechanical cutting operations may be used, including respectively, a heated element (e.g., wire, ribbon, bar, or embossing or perforating element) that may be triggered inductively, water or steam jets, or improved knife/anvil cooperation.

Systems and methods utilizing stationary and/or moveable cutting components provide limited interference with web processing operations, such as pad spin and pitch alteration. Heat, laser, fluid, or mechanical cutting operations may be used, including respectively, a heated element (e.g., wire, ribbon, bar, or embossing or perforating element) that may be triggered inductively, water or steam jets, or improved knife/anvil cooperation.

A web slitter assembly comprising a mechanism connected to a support structure and to a blade housing for holding the blade housing adjacent a band so that the side of a blade contacts the side of the band with an appropriate amount of force. The mechanism comprises a body connected to the support structure, and a pair of flexible walls spaced apart and on opposite sides of a portion of the body. The upper ends of the flexible walls are attached to the support structure, and the lower ends of the flexible walls are attached to the blade housing.

A cutting apparatus comprises a cutting unit including a first blade member and a second blade member that cooperates with the first blade member in cutting an object, configured to cut the object by moving the object and at least one of the first and second blade members relative to each other in a cutting direction; and a changing unit configured to change a crossing angle between the first blade member and the second blade member during an operation of cutting the object, wherein the changing unit makes the crossing angle after the start of the cutting smaller than the crossing angle at the start of the cutting.

A food product slicer includes a base, a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base, a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past a cutting edge of the knife, a gauge plate mounted for movement between a closed position that prevents slicing and multiple open positions that permit slicing at respective thicknesses, and a gauge plate plane adjustment assembly for adjusting an orientation of a plane of the gauge plate relative to a plane of an edge of the knife. A seal assembly covers the gauge plate plane adjustment assembly and has first and second seal parts that are movable relative to each other between a sealing configuration of the seal assembly and an access configuration of the seal assembly.